Prenatal exposure to marijuana increases the chances of childhood hearing loss. By seven years old, these children are twice as likely to have a hearing loss as children not exposed. Prenatal exposure to cigarette smoke had no effect on their hearing.
Slightly over 4% of unexposed six and seven-year-olds had a hearing loss. This compares to almost 11% of similarly aged children who had prenatal exposure to marijuana.
"I was most surprised by the fact that the cigarettes were unrelated to hearing problems at this age," said Dr. Beth Nordstrom of Wayne State University.
Family Practice News, 2/15/04
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